R.R. Bowker Assumes Operations of Pubnet

Posted on January 10, 2003

R.R. Bowker, a publisher of bibliographic information, announced that it has assumed management responsibility for Pubnet, an electronic commerce service that allows booksellers to order titles directly from publishers and wholesalers. Although Bowker acquired Pubnet last August, the company continued to be operated by an outsource EDI service, MISG, as it had for the past three years.

"We're excited to assume responsibility for the full operations of Pubnet because we believe that Bowker has the ideal skill set and understanding of the publishing industry to make Pubnet an even more dynamic, cost-efficient service," said Michael Cairns, president of New Providence, N.J.-based R.R. Bowker. "Our objective for 2003 is to incorporate enhancements to Pubnet that will improve its functionality and deliver better value for our customers without adding cost."

Since its inception in 1997, Pubnet had been equally owned by Bowker, the Association of American Publishers (AAP), the American Booksellers Association (ABA) and the National Association of College Stores (NACS). Although Bowker now owns Pubnet outright, the company has established an agreement with the AAP, ABA and NACS that assures their ongoing involvement as special advisors to Bowker on Pubnet's future development.

Cairns also announced the appointment of David Davis as Director of the Pubnet Services Group. Davis was previously director of sales at MISG, where he also had responsibility for overseeing sales of the Pubnet service. Cairns also confirmed that Bowker has renewed the agreement with Global Exchange Service (GXS) for 2003 to provide the underlying Pubnet communications network.

"Pubnet has clearly established itself as the publishing industry's leading online ordering system, with more than 100 publishers, representing more than 3,000 imprints, and 3,000 booksellers integrated into the system nationwide," said Cairns. "In 2002 alone, we processed more than 5 million order lines through the system."